The most common types of beetles kept as pets are predominantly sap and fruit feeders as adults. In the wild they feed on rotten fallen fruit, or will scrape at tree bark in order to reach the sap of living wood beneath. In captivity, they are very easy to keep fed, though hungry beetles are still known to gouge scratches into any bark pieces in their enclosure in search of more to eat.
The simplest foods for your beetles are types most commonly available at your local grocery store; soft, sweet, ripe fruits such as: banana, cantaloupe, honeydew, mango, pears, or watermelon. A second option is to offer a 1:1 dilution of pure maple syrup and water.
Sometimes it’s not convenient to keep these fruits on hand all the time, such as bananas having a short shelf life. Overripe fruits are also more likely to attract nuisances like fruit flies. Another food option available in the hobby is pre-made beetle jellies, small cups of agar and fruit jelly that are shelf stable and easy to clean up. While these are still uncommon at retail pet stores, they can be bought from hobbyist shops online.
Perhaps you’d prefer to make your own beetle jelly that can keep for longer periods of time without spoilage, using fresh ripe fruits. Beetle jelly is very easy to make, provided you have the correct ingredients, the less common ones such as agar can sometimes be found at specialty grocers. Agar comes in a few different forms, so the approximate measurements for each is listed in case you can’t find it in a powder. Powder is recommended though, as it’s easier to work with and dissolves readily. Here’s the recipe we use to make beetle jelly for our own pets.
Easy Beetle Jelly
- 1 very ripe banana
- 2 cups water (500g)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed (50g)
- 1/2 tbsp. agar powder, (2g)
or 1 tbsp. agar flakes,
or 1/4 cup agar strands cut into 1″ pieces - 1/8 tsp. potassium sorbate powder (optional) (0.1g)
If using agar flakes or strands, pre-soak them in water for at least 10 min. to let them soften.
- Mash or blend the banana as smooth as you can get it.
- Bring the 2 cups of water to a boil, and stir in the agar, brown sugar, and potassium sorbate. Stir until completely dissolved. Agar strands and flakes will take longer to dissolve.
- Stir in the mashed banana and cook for 30 sec. Remove from heat and pour into any lidded container. Recommended are 2 oz. condiment cups. Refrigerate until agar has set.
This makes approximately 24 oz. of jelly, and a single beetle will eat about a 1/2 oz. piece of jelly over the course of one or two days. The potassium sorbate acts as a preservative, if you did not add it expect the jelly to last in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you did add the potassium sorbate, it should last for a couple months.